St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-12-03
AT DEATHS DOOR.

AL DEATHS DOOR.
REMARKABLE RECOVERY FROM
RUNAWAY ACCIDENT.
A New Jersey Militia OFFICER Loses His Mine
by Throwing Himself from the Back o
Horse-Fears That He Would be Hope
less Lunatic-His Reason Returns.
Major John f. Hartley, whose law
office is at No. 145 Broadway, New York
general on the staff of General Steele OF
the First Brigade, n. G. n. j. He has
Just recovered from long sickness re-
sulting from an accident in the discharge
Of his duty at the Sea Girt encampment
last August, which dethroned his reason
and brought him as near deaths door as
few men come who live to tell OF 1t.
There is only one other case on record
like his, and his recovery is regarded as
so remarkable that a careful account is
being prepared for a medical work. a
reporter found Major Hartley at his
pleasant residence and was told his story.
1T is a simple tale said the major,
smiling, and then he leaned back in an
easy chair and began:
"The adjutant and aids were forming
the brigade for dress parade on the night
after we arrived in camp, Sunday, Au'
gust 81, when General Steele rode out
upon the field. | followed him. In the
centre of the parade ground the gun
squad had taken position preparatory to
firing the sunset gun. General Steele
saw this, and desired me to go over to
the lieutenant and tell him to move his
men to one side of the field. put spurs
to my horse, which was a strange animal
hired at a Hoboken stable, and was soon
by the side of the lieutenant. | gave the
order and in an instant the gun was
turned about. The quick motion startled
my horse, who began to run away He
plunged forward so quickly that | was
thrown on his neck and could not get
back into the saddle.
The horse made for the stables, not
far off, and quick as flash | remembered
that the Intel was very low and that if
remained where | was | should be badly
hurt. | at once let myself down by the
animals side and then virtually threw
myself to the ground. A crowd of Off
GERS rushed to me and picked me up, but
| did not think was hurt. They carried
me to my tent, but was not injured ap
parently. attended to my duties with
out any difficulty during the week. Fri
day night the governors ball was held. |
attended it, and after being introduced
to two ladies and presenting them to Gov
ernor Green as we'll, was excused and
returned to my tent. There L was
joined by Captain Boltwood, one of
General Steele's aids. He noticed some
thing strange in my actions. Captain
Thorpe, of Paterson, came to the tent
and sat outside in view of the opening
for while. Finally he burst out with
What is the matter with you? Are you
sick?' l then shook hands with him
and said few words. had previously
paid no attention to him. He told HE
all this afterward I do not remember it.
when camp broke up | went to
Ocean Grove, where my wife was stay
ing. We spent week there and it was
found that my memory was gone. My
wife would spend the afternoon with me,
and at supper l would ask her where she
had been all the afternoon. With you,
of course she would reply; but l had
no remembrance of it. After stopping a
short time with my brother in New York
| returned to Paterson. On the 7th of
l left home for my business
in New York. | remember saying to my
wife that if | did not feel better before
many hours than did then | would come
home early. l remember nothing after
his for weeks.
so far as | now know I was uncon-
scious for most of the time, for cannot
anything about it. DR.. W. B.
King, the electrician, of Fifty third street,
Dr. William G. Hartley, of No. $40 West
Thirty-fourth street, and my brother and
Professor O'Connor, of the New York
College, attended me.
They found that clot of blood had
,ormed on the part of the brain con-
rolling the memory. Softening of the
)rain would soon be the result, they said;
md if | lived, which was improbable, I
would be hopeless lunatic. From Au-
gust 21 to September 7, when | lost my
memory completely, was in the condi-
ion of man whose brain was soften
ng, | suppose. For three weeks my
,ulse was in the forties, and there was no
nope of life | am told that seemed to
recognize my wife, and asked for rela-
ions who had been in California for
-ears and for my child who died year
lgo At the end of this period I began
o gain. but my memory suddenly re-
urned about October l. The clot of |
'lood had been absorbed, and the pressure
N the brain was removed.
"a very peculiar thing about the case,"
he major continued, ''is that my taste
or tobacco is gone. / was an inveterate |
moker and chewer. AS soon as reason
eturned | called for cigar and smoked |
t, but from that time to this l have not
lad the slightest desire for the weed.
Occasionally my hand goes mechanically
nto my pocket, and when find nothing
here | remember what | am searching
or